College Football: Beavers bounce Wolves

September 30, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji put constant pressure on Northern State to defeat the Wolves 35-7 in its homecoming football game in Minnesota on Saturday afternoon. The defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champions jumped out to a 14-0 lead. NSU, however, bounced back in the second quarter to score its only touchdown on senior wide receiver Mike Cahoy's nine-yard catch from Eric Ellingson. “Field position is critical in football,” said NSU coach Chris Boden. “And Bemidji had fantastic field position all day long. It is frustrating.” The Beavers made big plays and won the battles in most phases of the game. Bemidji never had to punt in the game and started five of its 10 drives in Northern State territory. The Wolves started all of their drives in their own territory. “We felt like we were prepared and came ready to play,” said Boden. “But we just couldn't stop them. Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way like it did today for us. Sometimes, that just happens.” Boden also credited Bemidji's veteran offensive line of four seniors and one junior. “They won the line of scrimmage today. They have an outstanding offensive line and it showed today. Our team is disappointed right now. Our guys are hurting, but we have to get back to work and try to get better every day so we are ready to play Wayne in our homecoming game next Saturday.” Another problem for NSU was the Bemidji quarterback, freshman Cory Wardrope. “Their quarterback is a creative kid who makes things happen when things don't go right,” said Boden. “And in the game of football, things don't go right a lot. He played a good game today.” Bemidji also continued its tradition of outstanding special teams play as well as its homecoming tradition of jumping into Lake Bemidji next to Chet Anderson stadium and singing its school song after a win. The Beavers also blocked two NSU punts. “They got penetration right up the middle on us,” Boden said about the blocked punts. “We did not have a good day on special teams. None of us had good days. It is like I told the team, we win together and we lose together.” This was Bemidji's 11th consecutive conference win. The Beavers have now held opponents to less than 90 rushing yards in 15 of its last 19 games and have forced a turnover in 86 of its last 93 games. NSU rushed for 24 yards and had one turnover. Northern State will host Wayne State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Swisher Field in the Wolves' annual Gypsy Day homecoming game in Aberdeen. Bemidji will travel to Bismarck to play Mary at 1 p.m. Saturday in another NSIC game. Bemidji State and Winona State are on top of the conference with 3-0 records. The two teams will play each other Oct. 20 at Winona. The league teams who are 2-1 in the NSIC are Northern, Moorhead, Mary and Wayne. Northern (2-3, 2-1 NSIC) 0 7 0 0- 7 Bemidji (4-1, 3-0) 6 15 14 0-35 First Quarter BSU - Paul Potemra 21 field goal, 10:12. BSU - Potemra 22 field goal, 4:50. Second Quarter BSU - Cory Wardrope 1 run (Wardrope pass from Erick Newman), 8:01. NSU - Mike Cahoy 9 pass from Eric Ellingson (Thomas Parrott kick), 3:48. BSU - George Kadlec 5 pass from Wardrope (Potemra kick), 2:28. Third Quarter BSU - Wardrope 7 run (Potemra kick), 5:46. BSU - Newman 12 run (Potemra kick), :00. NSU BSU Plays-Yards 67-276 83-375 Firstdowns 21 26 Rushes-yards 28-24 57-171 Passing 252 204 Comp-Att-Int 20-39-1 14-26-1 Punt Ret.-Yds. 3-39 0-0 KO Ret.-Yds. 2-122 7-400 Punts-Avg. 5-21.4 0-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0 Possession Time 25:19 34:37 3rd Dn. Conv. 4-13 10-18 4th Dn. Conv. 2-3 2-4 Red Zone Sc. 1-2 6-9 Penalties-Yards 9-76 6-73 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING - Northern, Matt DeVine 9-34; Bemidji, Erick Newman 25-105. PASSING - Northern, Eric Ellingson 20-39-1 252; Bemidji, Cory Wardrope 14-26-1 for 204. RECEIVING - Northern, Brian Jark 8-112, Mike Cahoy 4-49; Bemidji, George Kadlec 4-89. TACKLES - Northern, Dustin Swearingen 11, Bryar Johnson 10, Mike Preciado 10; Bemidji, Jeremiah Johnson 8 (interception). MISSED FIELD GOALS - Northern 42 yards; Bemidji 27 yards.